Most fireboats are built on tug-like hulls, because of all the equipment... Not planing speedboat hulls.

I'm happy to see a new offering, but it just looks goofy to me...

Pat,

The change has been that the fire boats are performing more
medical emergency first response than actual fire fighting.
The two new boats local for the Sheriff and Fire department were
both aluminium hull fast boats.

The reasoning for keeping and maintaining the old fire boat is that it is
a huge pumping resource should waterlines fail. It is also irreplaceable monetarily if
the city should want to retire it and build a new one.